Dynasty LB

As a group I believe I have one of the top 5 in my 12 team league. But I don't have a top guy in the group, everyone I have falls in between 12-25 IMO ... my group is Brian Cushing / Jon Beason / Paul Posluszny / Jerod Mayo / Colin McCarthy / Rolando McClain / Bobby Wagner. I have good youth with McCarthy, Wagner and McClain and at some point I think all 3 will crack the top 10.

I start 4 LBs so would like to only carry 5 or 6. Scoring is based mostly on tackles 2.5 for a solo and 1.5 for an assist. So my question for this group is who to keep and who should I go after?

I also could grab Bruce Carter off the WW as I believe has great upside and could slot him in as my LB6

Thanks for any comments anyone can give me :)

I mostly agree with you concerning your LBs although I think McCarthy is a top 10 linebacker if not top 5. He put up top 5 numbers during his starts last season and he was struggling with a shoulder injury. There isn't a ton of competition for tackles in Tennessee and they have historically received a ton of tackle opportunity.

I think Carter could have nice upside as well. He's ultimately a bit limited with Sean Lee manning the other ILB position, however. And he will have to beat out Dan Connor (who is an above average run defender) for base snaps this season.

I'm really high on Wagner this season as well. Similar situation to McCarthy last season.

Honestly, it depends on who is available on your WW, but on the surface it looks as though your linebackers are rock solid and there isn't anyone that I would drop. McClain is likely the shakiest for this season as he has a 180 day jail term and a possible suspension looming over his head.

Good job on building your LBs!

Question for you, who should I trade out of the group? My guess is Jon Beason / Jerod Mayo / Paul Posluszny are the ones to trade away as they don't have the long term upside to guys like Cushing, McClain, Wagner and for sure McCarthy.

I know McClain will more then likely sit on my bench for a while (Aaron Curry is out there on the WW so I was thinking of picking him up to replace him for the time he is gone) but the long term upside is just to much to pass on IMO.

What are your thoughts on Perry Riley. I believe I could trade for him as well.

I think you are thinking about it in the right way. I'd trade them in the following order:

1) Jerod Mayo - The scheme change and move to the weak side concerns me some. As does the additions of Hightower and Jones. Spikes is a very solid run defender who could severely damage Mayo's long-term value if he manages to stay on the field in passing situations. They may never happen, but there are enough concerns here to make Mayo the most expendable of these three players.

2) Rolando McClain - Has been a bit inconsistent since entering the league but started to turn the corner last year. His recent run-in with the law makes his fantasy situation a bit muddled in the short-term, but he should be fine long-term. He probably won't live up to his immediate post-draft projection as a top tier LB1, however.

3) Jon Beason - He's only 27 and he seems to have recovered very well from his ACL tear. He will eventually move to the weak side which will hurt his value though as does the addition of Luke Kuechly in general.

Pozluszny's the same age as Beason and has less competition for tackles. He's probably 3a on this list.

In the end, these are all top 20 linebackers will little difference in relative value. But if you really had to unload some guys, these are probably your best bets.

I have those 4 OTB right now .. and thanks for the detail rankings on them. I've been looking at DeMeco Ryans ... I think he could be a top 5 guy do to the wide 9 in Philly. His injury history scares me a little tho.